Struycken, Hunter team up

Outfit strikes Universal deal

LONDON — Dutch producer Volkert Struycken has joined forces with compatriot mini-media conglom Hunter Media to create film fi-nance vehicle EFP European Film Partners.

“This is a new type of initiative for the Netherlands,” Struycken said.

The fledgling outfit has already struck a deal with Universal Pictures Benelux to invest jointly some E10 million ($13.6 mil-lion) in a slate of international and Dutch pics, which later it will distribute in Benelux.

In addition to partnering with Universal on acquisitions, EFP also plans to develop and produce its own projects.

“We’re currently developing a Dutch-language version of the English-language chick lit novel ‘Sheer Mischief,’ by Jill Mansell,” Struycken said. “But it’s early days, so we don’t have anything else to announce as yet.”

Struycken was co-head of the now-defunct Amsterdam-based production outfit Get Reel, which he founded alongside Errol Nayci in 1997.

His production credits under the Get Reel banner included Dutch Martin Koolhoven’s psychological thriller “The Cave” and co-productions such as “Rosenstrasse.”

Hague-based Hunter Media’s core biz is the acquisition, development and production of content with a focus on music, books, film, TV productions and new media.

Its subsidiaries include the homevid outfit Indies Entertainment Group and the online dating site Lymic.